Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States and Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity, stressed that hunger must not be weaponized. In the ensuing all-day debate, speakers voiced concern about the global food crisis fuelled by climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict, with many highlighting that the Russian Federation’s war on Ukraine and its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative exacerbated global food insecurity. Throughout the day, that country was repeatedly called to re-join the agreement and ultimately withdraw from Ukraine.Īntony J. However, conflicts threaten to close the doors of their manufacturing partners, she reported, calling on those around the table to stand up for humanity and stop the conflicts for the children’s sake. Navyn Salem, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Edesia, sharing how she has seen children take their last breaths while their mothers sit by waiting for a miracle, said her company produces that “miracle” - a ready-to-use therapeutic food called Plumpy’Nut, used in the treatment of severe acute malnutrition. We are now at a tipping point,” she warned, stressing that conflict and insecurity remain key drivers of hunger and famine.Įach of the seven countries where people faced famine-like conditions in 2022 were affected by armed conflict or extreme levels of violence, she reported. Parties to conflict must respect international humanitarian law and the international community must make better use of existing early warning mechanisms, she stressed, underlining the need for adequate humanitarian funding and measures to address the climate and economic crises.ĭavid Miliband, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Rescue Committee, pointing out that once famine is declared, it is too late for too many, stressed: “We need to address the threat of famine by looking through the windshield, not through the rear-view mirror.” That the world is four times richer than it was 50 years ago yet faces more famine is not fate but a choice that will only be changed by action, he said. “It is a man-made crisis that has been swelling for years. Reena Ghelani, United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator, reported that the number of people suffering from acute food insecurity reached a quarter billion in 2022 - the highest recorded in recent years. It called on all parties to armed conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. The Council also condemned the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival. It reiterated the need to break the vicious cycle between armed conflict and food insecurity and took note that, in 2022, armed conflict was the most significant driver of high levels of acute food insecurity for roughly 117 million people in 19 countries and territories. In All-Day Debate, Speakers Call for Unity Tackling Global Hunger, Urge Russian Federation to Re-join Black Sea Grain InitiativeĪdopting a presidential statement today, the Security Council reiterated its commitment to address conflict-induced food insecurity in situations of armed conflict during a day-long open debate on the matter, in which 80 speakers voiced alarm and urged unity to address the growing scale of food insecurity and human suffering due to conflict and violence.īy the text (to be issued as document S/PRST/2023/4), the 15-nation organ expressed concern over the growing number of armed conflicts in different geographic areas around the world.
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